POTTERS YOUNGSTERS MAKING PREMIER IMPRESSION AS THEY LOOK TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP...
STOKE City under-23s have won five games on the spin and scored 12 goals in the process as they hunt promotion in Premier League 2.
Kevin Russell’s side, which has needed to accommodate some out of favour senior pros at points this season, have found top gear as the junior Potters have had a chance to shine.
It is a smaller squad and young players are being tasked with stepping up to test themselves – and they are catching Michael O’neill’s eye in the process.
These are the players hoping to follow in the footsteps of Joe Bursik, Nathan Collins, Harry Souttar and Tyrese Campbell and make the big step into the senior side.
BLONDY NNA NOUKEU
The Cameroon youth international, who grew up in Belgium as the son of Royal Excel Mouscron midfielder Patrice Noukeu. He joined Stoke from Mouscron in the summer of 2019 and has already spent a long time training with the first team keepers – and he’s been on the bench for O’neill too. A big, dominating keeper, there has been interest
from Ireland in a loan move this summer with an eye on keeping up his development.
NATHAN BROOME
The England youth international has been stuck by the Stoke keeper injury curse this season and has
been dealing with a shoulder problem.
The former Manchester City stopper was a star on loan at Mickleover Sports last season and has been building a reputation for his shot stopping and distribution.
KIERAN COATES
Attacking right-back who has three goals to his name this season.
The 19-year-old, from Smallthorne, he went viral last week when a thumping tackle against Norwich earned him a controversial booking.
But never mind the yellow card, how about this kind of praise when you’re a Stoke fan yourself?
“What a tackle!” said Carl Dickinson.
“Great tackle Coatesy!” said Andy Wilkinson.
EDDIE JONES
Left-back, aged 19, earned rave reviews while on loan earlier this season at AFC Telford United, where Bursik spent time a couple of seasons ago.
Telford boss Gavin Cowan said: “Eddie has been exemplary since he came
in. He is an extremely hard worker but has the quality and talent to go with it. I think he will have a future in the game if he keeps applying himself the way he is.
“He is developing very quickly. (Stoke) are very happy that he has improved very quickly with us.”
WILL FORRESTER
The centre-back, aged 19, is big mates with Nathan Collins and has stepped up into the first team match day squad. He was on the bench earlier this month against Reading and is currently training fulltime with O’neill’s group. A dream pro, he has been with Stoke since the age of six.
CONNOR TAYLOR
One to watch, the towering 17-year-old defender was snapped up from Stafford Rangers in 2019 and impressed on loan at Chester before Christmas.
Stoke under-18s coach Rich Walker said in January: “Connor’s a lad who’s had just over 12 months with us. He’s tall, quick and decent on the ball and straightaway before we signed him we saw the raw materials there and ingredients that everyone is after for a centre-half or any other position.
“We looked at him on trial and saw a decent enough learner and a decent character who hasn’t had a vast amount of coaching. “It seemed a no brainer to take him and he’s made steady progress while he’s been in the Academy. When he played in the 18s last year he did well by and large. He had a loan at Newcastle Town last year when he ended up getting player of the month and he’s met challenges well. “He moved up to the 23s at the start of this season and didn’t really hit the ground running. It took a bit of time to adjust to that next step up as a lot of players do but he’s relished the opportunity to go out on loan and done really well there.
“The reports we’ve had back from staff internally who have kept a regular eye on Connor and our external reports have been very positive.
“Fair play to Connor, he’s shown the right approach and we think it’s a real part of developing players, particularly centre-halves.
“When he goes up to our first team he’s going to have to head it out of his own box, head it in the opposition box, deal with pressure when three points are on the line and I think the loan move has been absolutely ideal for him.”
LEWIS MACARI
Lew, grandson of Lou and son of Paul, is a talented footballing defender.
He has had to be patient this season while Kevin Wimmer, Liam Lindsay and Moritz Bauer needed game time but he’s getting a run now and a chance to showcase his ability to read the game and consistency.
Has been helping out in the Macari Centre too.
TOM SPARROW
A hard-working, hard running dynamo in midfield with good technique to boot. A Wales youth international from Buckley, near Chester, who joined Stoke from Wolves as a 14-year-old and is still eligible for the under-18s.
DAN MALONE
‘Bugsy’ is a Wales youth international captain, from Vicars Cross, Chester, who has been with Stoke from the age of nine. Comparisons to Glenn Whelan, the 18-yearold thrives in a deep-lying midfield role.
Always available to receive the ball and move it on.
GABRIEL ADEBAMBO
Republic of Ireland youth midfielder, aged 18, joined Stoke from Dundalk in early 2020 even if it took a while for him to finally be allowed to meet up with his new teammates. Left-footed with a lot of energy and decent on the ball.
ADAM PORTER
Currently recovering from a broken fibula picked up at Leeds earlier this year. Hoping to be back fit before the end of the season. The 18-year-old midfielder, from Biddulph, has captained Stoke through the age groups and was on the first team bench against Nottingham Forest on the final day of last season.
D’MARGIO WRIGHT-PHILLIPS
No pressure on the deadline day signing from Manchester City but he’s grandson of Ian Wright and son of Shaun Wright-phillips.
Scored for Stoke in wins at Burnley and Reading and a chance to show off his backflip celebration. Academy director Gareth Owen said: “We had to beat a lot of competition and it looked like he might go somewhere else over the weekend – but he was desperate to come to us. He
knows Andy Cousins, he’s from Manchester and wanted to stay around the area. “Positional wise he’s what we needed and he has the right potential and character. He’s hungry to do well.
“He’s direct and quick. He’s got a trick and he can put crosses in and score goals. He’s got a lot of attributes he can add to the under-23s now and a lot he can still work on.”
ETHON VARIAN
In the kind of form that is bringing him to the attention of O’neill. It’s seven goals in his last eight Premier League 2 games, including two at Reading.
Strong, hard working and aggressive, the 19-yearold had a taste of men’s football last season on loan at Nantwich Town and, all importantly, has always had a good goals record. A champion hurler back in Cork before moving to Stoke in 2018.
CHRISTIAN NORTON
Wales youth striker, aged 19, signed after leaving Southampton at the start of the season and has scored five goals in the league so far this season.
Recent performances have got him knocking on the door of the first team squad.
IBRAHIMA SY
Central midfielder, who had been on the books of Stade Reims, played for Senegal at the under-17s World Cup in Brazil in 2019 and was been spotted by Mama Sidibe. The 18-year-old is seen as someone who can dictate play, good on the ball and gets stuck in.
DOUG TAYLOR
High hopes for the quick and powerful striker who joined Stoke last summer from Salford City, where he had been top scorer for their under-18s and might have been pushing for a first team breakthrough this term. A couple of goals to his name so far as he adjusts to new life in a Category One academy.
WILL GOODWIN
Deadline day arrival is a Stoke fan from Tarporley who was mascot at the 2011 FA Cup final.
He had been catching his eye with his raw attributes as he made a senior breakthrough at Chester in National League North.
Owen said: “He’s taller than me, he’s lean, athletic, aggressive and he can finish. “We’ve tracked him for a while and with Connor Taylor going on loan we were able to watch him more and do our background. “Physically he looks the part and we’re excited to bring him in.”